Lady Fortescue Steps Out: The Poor Relation Series, Book 1

Life is not easy for the poor relations of England's upper crust, but fate and clever schemes bring them together. Lady Fortescue and Colonel Sandhurst hatch a plan: What if they were to transform her decrepit Bond Street home into a posh hotel, offering their guests the pleasure of being waited upon by nobility? With the help of other down-and-out aristocrats, they do just that, and London's newest hotel, the Poor Relation, is born.

Masked Ball at Broxley Manor: A Royal Spyness Novella

At the end of her first unsuccessful season out in society, Lady Georgiana has all but given up on attracting a suitable man - until she receives an invitation to a masked Halloween ball at Broxley Manor. Georgie is uncertain why she was invited, until she learns that the royal family intends to marry her off to a foreign prince, one reputed to be mad.

Minerva: The Six Sisters, Book 1

Poor Minerva. Prudish, self-righteous, and incredibly beautiful, she is to be sent to London to capture a wealthy husband. But Minerva doesn't know the first thing about flirting. The London dandies find her moralizing appalling and concoct a plan to assault her virtue - an assault that will scandalize all London society. Meanwhile, Lord Sylvester Comfrey, whom she met earlier through her father, has been keeping a careful eye on the girl. A fact she resents. She dislikes Lord Sylvester. There is something about him that disturbs her.

Refining Felicity: The School for Manners, Book One

When Amy and Effy Tribble, two charming but impoverished spinster sisters, lose out on a much needed inheritance, they place an advertisement in The Morning Post and hire themselves out as professional chaperones. Vowing to prepare even the most difficult misses for marriage, the Tribble sisters will spend a London season on each client in this delightful Regency series, The School for Manners. Felicity Baronsheath, their first assignment, turns out to be more of a challenge than they ever imagined.

A Useful Woman: A Rosalind Thorne Mystery, Book 1

The daughter of a baronet and minor heiress, Rosalind Thorne was nearly ruined after her father abandoned the family. To survive in the only world she knew, she began to manage the affairs of some of London society's most influential women, who rely on her wit and discretion. So when artistocratic wastrel Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in London's most exclusive ballroom, Almack's, Rosalind must use her skills and connections to uncover the killer.

The Original Miss Honeyford

Miss Honaria Honeyford was sent to London to save the family fortune by hunting a wealthy husband - and being a loving (if not entirely dutiful) daughter, she obeyed. But if she was reluctantly willing to surrender her hand, this beautiful young lady who could ride, shoot, and argue with any man was not about to lose her head or heart to the dismal dandies of the Marriage Mart. First she met the arrogantly attractive Lord Alistair Stewart, who treated her infuriatingly like a little girl. And then she met the skillfully seductive Lord Channington, who treated her intoxicatingly like a desirable woman....

Cherringham - A Cosy Crime Series Compilation (Cherringham 1 - 3)

Jack's a retired ex-cop from New York, seeking the simple life in Cherringham. Sarah's a Web designer who's moved back to the village find herself. But their lives are anything but quiet as the two team up to solve Cherringham's criminal mysteries. This compilation contains episodes 1 - 3: MURDER ON THAMES, MYSTERY AT THE MANOR and MURDER BY MOONLIGHT.

The First Rebellion: The Waverly Women, Book 1

The Earl of Tredair has had his fill of balls, routs, and silly misses, and he despairs of finding someone extraordinary - that is, until he meets Miss Fanny Waverley. Most unique and intriguing, Fanny and her two sisters are the adopted daughters of the reclusive bluestocking Madame Waverley. They have been raised as her disciples to spread the word of women's rights and to encourage poor oppressed females to stand up against the iniquities of the male sex. The beautiful and farouche Miss Fanny, however, finds it quite difficult to think of all men as cruel and lustful beasts....

Merely a Marriage: A New Regency Novel

Lady Ariana Boxstall's brother, Norris, is a strapping young man, but he's happily unmarried and childless. Pestered by his sister, Norris agrees to take a wife on one condition: that Ariana take a husband first. Although she realizes she risks spending a lifetime in a loveless marriage, for the sake of her own family's legacy, Ariana accepts his challenge. When the Earl of Kynaston met Ariana eight years ago, he broke her heart. Since then, his own heart has been broken, and he's sworn off love.

A Lady in the Smoke: A Victorian Mystery

Following a humiliating fourth season in London, Lady Elizabeth Fraser is on her way back to her ancestral country estate when her train careens off the rails and bursts into flames. Though she is injured, she manages to drag herself and her unconscious mother out of the wreckage, and amid the chaos that ensues, a brilliant young railway surgeon saves her mother's life. Elizabeth feels an immediate connection with Paul Wilcox - though society would never deem a medical man eligible for the daughter of an earl.

Spinster

Staring down life as an old maid, newly jilted Clare flees to a country home she's inherited from her grandmother. She doesn't count on clashing with her handsome neighbor, whose gentlemanly manners and education are at odds with his workingman image. As their relationship unfolds, however, she discovers the mysterious Meriweather Holcroft is not at all what he appears to be.

The Flirt: The Regency Intrigue Series, Book 1

Tongues were set wagging when Elizabeth Markham's glamorous young parents were killed, sinking their only child to the unspeakable class of poor relation. Forced to live with her cruel, miserly uncle Julius, Elizabeth is forbidden to partake in the season's festivities. Marriage is her only escape, and she enacts a daring plan to trick her way into the Duke of Dunster's exclusive house party, to snare one of the eligible dandies sure to dance attendance on her.

Publisher's Summary

Is Number 67 Clarges Steet the unluckiest house in Mayfair? Every season the beau mondes of the Regency would hire a house in the heart of London’s fashionable West End at disproportionately high rent for often inferior accommodation and yet Number 67 Clarges Street, a town house complete with staff, remains vacant from year to year. Could it be that it is associated with ill luck and even death? Something must be done so that the servants of this house don’t lose their livelihood.

Salvation seems to come in the form of Roderick Sinclair who confirms he wishes to rent the house for the current season. The staff is overjoyed - until they find that Mr. Sinclair is a terrible miser who is planning no parties. Furthermore, his ward, Fiona, though a dazzling Highland beauty, does not seem to possess one bright idea in her head. But it is Rainbird, Number 67’s clever and elegant butler, who sees through her facade and resolves to help his mysterious mistress in whatever way he can.

M.C. Beaton has created a wonderful cast of characters and Lindy Nettleton has brought their personalities to life through her performance. I have enjoyed these books very much. The upstairs/downstairs storyline is excellent.

This is the first in a series which Audible doesn't carry in entirety, which was a terrible blow. In this first book, a skinflint drunkard 'inherits' a young woman from a deceased uncle. He rents a London house which is available at a shockingly low price because, unbeknownst to him, it has an unlucky reputation, even though the address is good. The staff is top-notch and excited the house has been rented for the season until they learn the new master of the house is a cheapskate. Fortunately, the young woman is singularly resourceful - making dresses from the curtains and out-gambling the gambling queens of the ton. She changes all their fortunes - especially downstairs. It's a great story with an odd twist at the end. Highly recommended. Hopefully Audible will get the rights for the rest of the tales soon.

If you could sum up The Miser of Mayfair in three words, what would they be?

What a surprise!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rainbird

What about Lindy Nettleton’s performance did you like?

A very good narrator. I'll look for more books she's narrated.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No, but there were a few that made me laugh, particularly the carriage chase. It was a perfect vehicle (no pun intended) for the cast of characters to once again remind you of their parts in the tale.

Any additional comments?

I started with Hamish Macbeth and progresed to Agatha Raisin, loving every book of both series. I just found the "House" series and can't believe I actually read and liked a romance! Mysteries are my favorites, but Beaton/Chesney captured my attention once again. I don't know if I'll continue with the series, since I found so many others that she's written, but I'm really glad I read "The Miser of Mayfair". I met some delightful new characters and found myself enjoying a genre I have shied away from for many years. It must be the writer, right?

liked it o.k. very much a period style romantic story about a young pennyless girl, looking for romance.I thought the reader was fine . This was not the best of M.C. Beaton stories, but if you like light romance this book is good for you.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Miser of Mayfair to be better than the print version?

I honestly haven't read the print version, so I couldn't tell you.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I enjoyed the aspect that the servants were a major part of the story, but the ending was very predictable and it wasn't as exciting as I would have thought. It was humorous at times, and if you're just looking for a relaxing read, it's a fun title.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Narration is really a personal preference in many cases. In this case, the narrator was very good except for the fact that the voice of the heroine got on my nerves. I know the character was Scottish, but Nettleton's high-pitched Scottish accent for the heroine was annoying at times. It's probably just me because I really loved how she performed the rest of the characters.

I read the reviews before I purchased this book and cannot understand how people rated it so highly. The plot is so trite; the reader is so slow. The heroine is OK, but an idiot who cheats at cards. I'm sorry I wasted my time and money.